Editor's note: A previous version of this article included a misspelling of the e-mail address that has now been corrected at the end. That e-mail address is: [email protected].
ATHABASCA — Southwest of Athabasca there is a camp for youth to learn the ins and outs of hunting safety and this year, it will see a record number sponsored by a local club.
Athabasca Fish and Game Association president Brian Rudyk announced at the groups's awards and banquet event in May there would be 10 youth, aged 12-17, sponsored to attend the week long camp this summer at the Narrow Lake Youth Camp (NLYC).
“Normally we sponsor three or four youth,” he said. “Thanks to all of you we are sending 10 kids to camp this summer.”
The camp is a safe environment for up to 64 youth to be taught the fundamentals of ethical hunting and fishing; proper use, storage, and handling of firearms; and outdoor survival skills and they learn how to be part of a team through classes, leadership, and teamwork.
“We now have a barrier-free cabin for people with low mobility,” said Rudyk, something the club has been fundraising for a while to get.
Basic, or Year 1 campers, take part in hunter education, firearms safety, boater safety, outdoor survival, archery, field position shooting, canoeing, and kayaking and the advanced, or Year 2 campers, learn about the Narrow Lake restricted firearm safety, outdoor skills, leadership, and much more.
“(The winter) camp provides education to various outdoor winter endeavours, as well as teaches the fundamentals of surviving and thriving in the outdoors at wintertime,” the NLYC website states. “The activities that are covered include the following: ice fishing, emergency snow shelter building and snow shelter building, trapping, snow and ice safety and survival.”
The camp is in Zone 5, one of six zones in the province named by the Alberta Fish and Game Association, the parent organization to all local associations who use various camps across the province to host youth camps throughout the winter and summer, as well as BOW (Becoming an Outdoor Woman) camps.
“The BOW camp is designed for women interested in taking part in outdoor activities they have never tried but would like to in a non-judgmental setting, or beginners wanting to improve upon their skills,” notes the Alberta Fish and Game Association.
For anyone wanting to learn more about the Athabasca Fish and Game Association, contact them at [email protected].
